Distribution: Widely cultivated in Europe and Asia. Origin unknown but the plant has been in cultivation from prehistoric times.

“Flax” is cultivated in the plains to c. 1900 m. alt. s. m. It is grown for its bast fibres from which linen cloth and ropes are made. Linseed oil, “Alsi-ka-tel”, is extracted from the seeds which are also medicinal, while the “seed-cake” is used for feeding cattle.